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Interview with Turkish Voice of Canada

March 2, 2020
Beste talks to TVC about her recent project, Musical Bridges and Komitas 150 with Sinfonia Toronto. She also discusses her life as a Turkish-Canadian artist performing internationally.

Big Win at Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20 – Les Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques: Prize, Roles, and Concert Engagements

December 3, 2019

26th Théâtre Lyrichorégra 20 – Les Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques results have been announced after a marathon of 4 concerts and various rehearsals in Montreal!

🌠 We are delighted to announce that Beste has been chosen as “Jeune Espoir Lyrique Canadien 2019” and awarded $5000 to support her future engagaments and auditons in Europe by Azrieli Foundation.

Beste has been also offered:

🌠 The title role in Carmen by Bizet in Sofia National Opera and Ballet(Bulgaria) for season 2020/2021

🌠 Concert engagament in January 2020 with Opera de San Miguel

🌠 Concert engagements with Opéra Angers Nantes (France) for season 2020/2021
🌠 Concert engagements with Shenzhen Poly Theatre (Chine) for season 2020/2021

Next Season Revealed: – Role Debut & Highlights

August 1, 2019

For the 2019-20 season, Beste will be returning to Edmonton Opera, this time as the “very easily assimilated” Old Lady in Candide by L. Bernstein. She has recently debuted this role with Banff Centre’s production in collaboration with Against The Grain Theatre and the Canadian Opera Company. She is looking forward to be back in Edmonton and to give life to this brilliant character once again, this time under the guidance of director Joel Ivany and Maestro Peter Dala!

When:
March 14,17, 20 2020
Click here for more information

Beste will also be rejoining the Toronto Operetta Family with a role debut, Czipra in The Gypsy Baron by J. Strauss. The show will run during holidays under the baton of Maestro Derek Bate and General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin!

When:
December 28th- January 5th 2020

On concert stages, Beste will make her company debut with Sinfonia Toronto under the baton of Maestro Nurhan Arman with a concert titled: Musical Bridges. The concert will feature the world premier of songs by award winning Turkish composer Tahsin Incirci and will celebrate a great composer and the founder of Armenian School of Music: Komitas.

Clikc here for more information

For the detailed schedule and updates, please check the upcoming events section

Beste as La Belle Hélène with Toronto Operetta Theatre

May 6, 2018

Adam Fisher (Paris) and Beste Kalender (Helene) in TOT’s The Beautiful Helen. Photo: Gilbeto Prioste; Maestro: Peter Tiefenbach; Reggia: Guillermo Silva-Marin

Beste’s performance of title role in La belle Hélène by Offenbach was very well received by the critics and audiences:

“Turkish-Canadian mezzo Beste Kalender was every inch the glamorous diva, sang with luscious tone, and acted up a storm.” (Joseph So, Opera Canada)

“There are some very good performances, notably by Beste Kalender in the title role. In appearance she could have stepped straight out of a Minoan fresco and vocally she navigates Helen’s very tricky music with great facility and rather beautiful tone colours. She does “petulant” and “hissy fit” really well too.”( John Gilks, Operaramblings)

“La Belle Hélène, Offenbach’s most popular operetta after La Vie parisienne (1866) and Orphée aux enfers (1858), provides an excellent showcase for the talents of Beste Kalender in the title role. Kalender possesses a large, lustrous and rich mezzo-soprano. But she also has a delightful agility of technique and a sense for comedy that she shows off in a series of extended interpolated runs in Act 2. She has the full measure of the role playing Hélène as an faux-innocent victim of destiny as well as a young woman instantly attracted to the strapping young Paris who clearly outshines her aged husband. Kalender is wonderfully coy and flirtatious in “On me nomme Hélène” and brings out the beauty of the operetta’s most famous melody, “Va t’en, va t’en, mon amour te suivra”, a melody you will instantly recognize without knowing that this operetta is its source.” (Christopher Hoile, Stage Door)

Beste returns to Carnegie Hall for The Marilyn Horne Song Celebration

February 7, 2018
Beste returned to Carnegie Hall in January 2018, this time performing at The Marilyn Horne Song Celebration along with a set of internationally celebrated artists. This was a tribute concert in the honor of great mentor and international opera star Marilyn Horne.
  • Nicole Cabell, Soprano
  • Susanna Phillips, Soprano
  • Isabel Leonard, Mezzo-Soprano
  • Beste Kalender, Mezzo-Soprano
  • Russell Thomas, Tenor
  • Leonardo Capalbo, Tenor
  • Lester Lynch, Baritone
  • Edward Parks, Baritone
  • Martin Katz, Piano
  • Warren Jones, Piano

Beste receives the Canada Council for the Arts grant for 2017

January 9, 2018
Beste is a 2017 recipient of the Canada Council for the Arts grant: Professional Development for Artists.

The Professional Development for Artists component of Explore and Create supports the career growth of Canadian artists and artistic groups by encouraging participation in a wide range of development opportunities. Grants fund activities that contribute to the professional advancement of Canadian artists working in all artistic disciplines.

“We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, which last year invested $153 million to bring the arts to Canadians throughout the country.

Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. L’an dernier, le Conseil a investi 153 millions de dollars pour mettre de l’art dans la vie des Canadiennes et des Canadiens de tout le pays.”

Beste will be performing at Gala Concert of World Opera Stars with The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus

November 28, 2017

Beste will be performing at Gala Concert of World Opera Stars with The National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus

Conductors – Gianluca Marcianὸ (Italy), Andrei Galanov
For more details:
http://bolshoibelarus.by/eng/schedule-ticket/schedule/icalrepeat.detail/2017/12/22/68/89|109|110|121|130/gala-concert-of-world-opera-stars.html

Beste will be performing Carmen with Bergen Nasjonale Opera in Norway next season

November 28, 2017
After the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques Concerts and Gala 2017, Beste has been awarded:
Prix Lyrique Norvégien: Title role in Carmen by Bizet with Bergen Nasjonale Opera
Prix Lyrique Coréen: Engagements with Daegu Opera House, Korea
Prix Lyrique Bielorusse: Concert engagement with Minsk National Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theater, Belarus
and Concert engagement with Helikon Opera, Moscow.
Details TBA

SOIRÉES LYRIQUES MONTREAL-MOSCOU

September 19, 2017
Beste will be performing in SOIRÉES LYRIQUES MONTREAL-MOSCOU, at Helikon Opera, Moscow, on Nov 30th, 2017 at 7:00pm
Stravinsky Hall, Moscow
 
Maestro: 
Valery Kyrianov
Performers: 
Lara Secord-Haid, Soprano
Beste Kalender, Mezzo soprano
Lucas van Lierop, Tenor
Hugo Laporte, baritone
Soprano Sharon Azrieli
ГЕЛИКОН-ОПЕРА

Beste receives the inaugural Stuart Hamilton Memorial Fund for Emerging Artists Award

August 22, 2017
VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert pays tribute to the memory of its founder, the legendary Stuart Hamilton, by awarding up and coming young professionals. Beste is one of the first artists chosen by the Stuart Hamilton Memorial Fund for Emerging Artists for this award.
Stuart Hamilton was an award-winning Canadian pianist, operatic vocal coach, radio broadcaster, artistic director, and producer based in Toronto. As one of Canada’s top vocal coaches for over 65 years, he has inspired and coached generations of singers.
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